How Its Spread – Norovirushttps://www.norovirus.com
Norwalk Virus & Food PoisoningSat, 25 May 2019 07:56:08 +0000enhourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.5.3Common Ways People Catch Norovirushttps://www.norovirus.com/common-places-people-catch-norovirus/
Tue, 24 Jun 2014 19:47:05 +0000https://www.norovirus.com/?p=169According to the CDC, an average of 19 to 21 million cases of acute gastroenteritis (a viral or bacterial infection that causes the stomach and intestines to become inflamed) are caused by Noroviruses each year. Of these cases, between 56,000 to 71,000 results in hospitalization each year, while between 570 and 800 will end in […]

]]>According to the CDC, an average of 19 to 21 million cases of acute gastroenteritis (a viral or bacterial infection that causes the stomach and intestines to become inflamed) are caused by Noroviruses each year. Of these cases, between 56,000 to 71,000 results in hospitalization each year, while between 570 and 800 will end in death. Norovirus affects everyone without concern to race, age, sex, or socioeconomic status. However, there are certain places that Norovirus is more likely to take place. The following are the most common places that Norovirus outbreaks occur.

HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
One of the easiest places to pick up an infection of any kind, particularly Norovirus, is in a healthcare setting. In fact, according to the National Institute for Health, this is the most commonly reported places for Norovirus outbreaks. This includes hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. While immunocompromised individuals, young children, and the elderly are the most severely affected, it is important to understand that anyone can contract this virus.

FOOD SERVICE INCLUDING RESTAURANTS, BUFFETS, AND MORE
According to the CDC, in the US, Norovirus is the leading cause of disease outbreaks from contaminated food. Of these cases, 70% are the result of infected food service workers who handle food inappropriately. In a restaurant or similar setting, this is usually the result of someone not properly washing their hands before touching food that is ready to be served. It is imperative that sick food service workers stay out of work for a minimum of 48 hours after their symptoms have stopped. The most commonly involved foods in a Norovirus outbreak include fresh fruit, leafy green vegetables, and shellfish.
​ DAYCARE. SCHOOLS, AND COLLEGES
Any time people are crowded into small closed spaces, such as daycare, school buildings, and college dorms, the chances of a Norovirus outbreak become higher. Consider the following scenario. Jill, a 2 year old, suffered from diarrhea and vomiting over the weekend. On Monday, her mom sends her to daycare because she cannot afford to miss work. Jill is fine for several hours as she plays and abandons numerous toys. In addition, she accidentally drinks out of Sarah’s cup before Sarah snatches it away and puts it in her mouth. Around 1:00pm, Jill begins throwing up and is sent home. Unfortunately, by that time, Sarah, as well as all the other children who have picked up toys she has played with and then put their hands in their mouth, are at high risk of contracting Norovirus. The virus easily lives on toys, stuffed animals, counters, and more until they are appropriately cleaned.

CRUISE SHIPS
According to the CDC, cruise ships account for 1% of all Norovirus outbreaks. While this number is not nearly as high as many of the other causes, it still equals thousands of people every year. This is because cruise ships place hundreds or thousands of people together in a relatively small area. In addition, there are plenty of opportunities to pick up the virus while making your way down the buffet line.

WELL WATER, POOLS, AND OTHER WATER SOURCES
While this is less likely than the scenarios listed above, it is still a possibility. For example, if a baby has diarrhea while floating around the swimming pool or lake, it can leak out before he or she is removed from the water. Now, consider how many people accidentally swallow a little bit of water while swimming.

Norovirus is a very serious illness and while there is no 100% way to prevent someone from contracting it, it is possible to decrease their odds. Proper hand washing is key! Please look through our other articles for an in-depth look at how to decrease the spread of Norovirus.

]]>Ways Norovirus Spreadshttps://www.norovirus.com/common-ways-norovirus-spreads/
Tue, 24 Jun 2014 06:29:42 +0000https://www.norovirus.com/?p=141There are several different ways that Norovirus is spread from person to person. It is also possible to get the virus by eating contaminated food. Although preventative measures can be taken, it is still common for Norovirus to be spread by restaurant food and for people to become infected in hospitals nursing homes, schools and […]

]]>There are several different ways that Norovirus is spread from person to person. It is also possible to get the virus by eating contaminated food. Although preventative measures can be taken, it is still common for Norovirus to be spread by restaurant food and for people to become infected in hospitals nursing homes, schools and on cruise ships.

Norovirus Person to Person Infection
Norovirus is most often spread by unintentionally ingesting a tiny amount of vomit or fecal matter from an infected person. Coming in contact with any contaminated surface or object, and then putting a finger in the mouth is enough to cause infection. In hospitals and care homes it can spread from a contaminated door handle or any object previously touched by an unwashed hand.

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that particles of the virus can survive for several days on any object or surface that has not been washed or cleaned. An infected person will be contagious in the first few days of getting Norovirus and also for several days after recovery.

People on board a cruise ship that has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected can quickly become infected if just one passenger has unknowingly carried the virus onto the ship.

An outbreak on a cruise ship is not an indication of poor food preparation or low standard of hygiene. The virus spreads rapidly because there are so many people in close proximity and surfaces become contaminated before anyone is aware that there is a danger of contagion.

Norovirus Infection from Food
Anyone who swallows a few particles of the virus is likely to become ill. According to CDC, the most common types of food items that can get contaminated are salads and raw vegetables as well as berries, fruits and some shellfish.

Leafy vegetables and fruits account for about half the number of outbreaks caused by food contamination.

The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has seen evidence of strawberries and raspberries, which have been frozen, being associated with outbreaks of Norovirus. They do not know whether the source was sewage contamination of the land where the berries were grown or if the berries were contaminated during the process of freezing and packaging.

Water and other liquids can also be contaminated with Norovirus particles. Oysters contain the virus when the water they come from has been contaminated by sewage, vomit or other infected substances. Shellfish are responsible for less than 20% of outbreaks.

Any type of food can spread Norovirus if it has been touched by someone with dirty hands that have Norovirus on them. Analysis carried out by the CDC between 2009 and 2012 showed that handling of food was the major cause of food contamination in the USA, and 92% of all food poisoning outbreaks originated with food preparation.

In restaurants where hand washing is frequent, and where gloves are worn for food preparation, there have been significantly fewer Norovirus outbreaks.

Norovirus can also be contracted by sharing food or cups with someone who is already infected.

There is far less chance of Norovirus spreading where there are good standards of hygiene in food preparation areas and in buildings where people go for health care. Unwashed hands and unclean surfaces are the most common ways for Norovirus to spread.

]]>How is Norovirus Passed From Person to Person and Why is it so Contagious ?https://www.norovirus.com/how-is-norovirus-passed-from-person-to-person-and-why-is-it-so-contagious/
Tue, 24 Jun 2014 06:28:18 +0000https://www.norovirus.com/?p=139Imagine being on vacation when a wave of diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps start taking over. Not exactly the idea of a fun vacation. Noroviruses is responsible for sending a number of the passengers aboard cruise ships heading for the bathroom and making the entire ship return to port before its time. When you get […]

Imagine being on vacation when a wave of diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps start taking over. Not exactly the idea of a fun vacation. Noroviruses is responsible for sending a number of the passengers aboard cruise ships heading for the bathroom and making the entire ship return to port before its time.
When you get back to dry land, this virus can impact the health of anyone that comes into contact with it. More than half of all the food-borne diseases occur because of the Norovirus. This virus is the main reason why adults end up with diarrhea and the second main reason why children do.

Causes of the Noroviruses
People end up becoming infected with this virus whenever they drink liquids or eat food that was contaminated. Some outbreaks are associated with undercooked or raw oysters as well as raw vegetables and fruit. Another common way to get infected is by touching a surface or object that was previously infected with the virus then touching your eyes, mouth or nose.

This virus tends to thrive on cruise ships, restaurants, day-care centers, nursing homes and various other places where the quarters are close. Whenever you are in a tight spot, it makes this virus easily transferable between individuals. It can also withstand extreme temperature changes and various surfaces.

Once an individual has been infected with the virus, it can quickly go from one person to another just by using contaminated utensils, sharing food, close contact and shaking hands. For those with a weak immune system, it makes it really simple to catch the virus.

Symptoms Signaling a Norovirus Infection
If you were to come down with this infection, you might go from feeling wonderful to feeling horrible within a couple hours of being exposed to the virus. Common symptoms are vomiting, nausea, watery diarrhea and cramping. While the aforementioned symptoms are the most common, others include fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, chills and a low-grade fever.

Even though the majority of symptoms aren’t serious, the vomiting and diarrhea can end up causing your body to deplete all of its natural fluids. In turn, you will find yourself dehydrated. Elderly individuals and children are the most prone to diarrhea, as well as becoming dehydrated. If you are dealing with the common symptoms of this virus, your doctor can perform a stool test to figure out if you have it or not. The diagnosis for the condition is normally made based on your symptom alone as the virus is usually over within 2 or 3 days.

Preventing the Infection from Occurring
One of the main keys in preventing the infection from occurring in the first place is maintaining proper hygiene, especially when you are around a bunch of other individuals or handling food.

• Thoroughly wash your hands for at least 15 seconds. If soap isn’t available, use a hand sanitizer instead.
• Disinfect and clean any surfaces in your environment using bleach and detergent.
• Make sure to wash any vegetables and fruits thoroughly. Cook your fish before you eat it, especially shellfish and oysters.
• Dispose of contaminated items with extreme caution.